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What are the different kinds of RNAs and what do they do?
Posted July 22, 2020
Answer
RNA is a polymeric molecule that can be classified into various groups based on their functions. The major types of RNA are as follows:
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the RNA that carries genetic information from DNA and serves as the blueprints from protein production
- Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is the catalytic component of the ribosomes, where protein synthesis takes place.
- Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a small RNA chain with about 80 nucleotides that transfers amino acids into the ribosome for protein synthesis.
- Small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is a small RNA whose primary function is in the processing of pre-messenger RNA in the nucleus.
- MicroRNA (miRNA) is a short RNA molecule of only 20-25 nucleotide long. They are used by cells to downregulate gene expression, preventing cells from producing too much proteins.
- Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is also a type of short RNA molecule which regulates gene expression. In contrast to miRNA’s downregulating effect, siRNA can completely turn off protein production from a particular gene, thereby silencing the gene.
Additional resources
Helixyte™ Green *10,000X Aqueous PCR Solution*
6-ROX glycine *25 uM fluorescence reference solution for PCR reactions* Doudna, J. A., & Charpentier, E. (2014). The new frontier of genome engineering with CRISPR-Cas9. Science, 346(6213), 1258096. Ran, F. A., Hsu, P. D., Wright, J., Agarwala, V., Scott, D. A., & Zhang, F. (2013). Genome engineering using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Nature protocols, 8(11), 2281. Hannon, G. J. (2002). RNA interference. nature, 418(6894), 244-251.